Pedalling Through Yorkshire’s Hidden History – Royston to Cold Hiendley

Sometimes the best Trail adventures are the unplanned ones.

With Penistone Parkrun cancelled due to the Penistone Show, I headed instead to Nostell for my weekly run. Having packed the bike as well, I decided to take the opportunity to explore a section of the Trans Pennine Trail that was completely new to me: the route from Rabbit Ings Country Park at Royston to Cold Hiendley Reservoir and back. What followed was an enjoyable eight-kilometre ride through woodland, alongside the historic Barnsley Canal, and across a landscape where wildlife, industry and transport history are woven together in fascinating ways.

Rabbit Ings: From Colliery Spoil Heap to Nature Haven

I began at the free car park at Rabbit Ings Country Park, just a short distance from the Trail entrance. Almost immediately, it became clear why this site is such a remarkable example of landscape transformation.

Today, Rabbit Ings is a thriving country park of wetlands, woodland and grassland, but beneath the wildlife-rich landscape lies a very different story. The park occupies land once dominated by Monkton Colliery, Royston Drift Mine and associated spoil heaps. Following the closure of the mines, the area was reclaimed and transformed into the green space visitors enjoy today.

Royston: Reading History in the Landscape

Although often associated with mining, Royston’s story stretches back much further and can be traced to the Domesday Book. Over the centuries it evolved from an agricultural settlement into an industrial community influenced by canals, railways, collieries and manufacturing.

What struck me during the ride was how many different layers of history remain visible. Even without stopping to study maps, you can sense that this is a landscape shaped by generations of human activity. The Trail itself follows routes once used to transport coal and goods, while nearby church towers, canal remnants and former industrial sites all contribute to the story.

Monckton Coke Works: The Industry That Shaped the Area

Close to where I joined the Trail stood one of the area’s most significant industrial sites: Monckton Coke and Chemical Company.

For well over a century, coal mined locally was processed here into coke for the iron and steel industries, alongside valuable chemical by-products such as ammonia, coal tar and benzole. At its peak the works operated hundreds of coke ovens and became an important employer for local communities.

What makes Monckton particularly significant is that it outlived almost all of Yorkshire’s deep coal mines. By the early 2000s it was regarded as Britain’s last independent coke works before finally closing in 2014.

Today, little remains to hint at the scale of the operation, but understanding sites like Monckton helps explain why the surrounding landscape contains canals, reservoirs, railways and former industrial routes. These were not isolated features; they were part of one interconnected system that powered South Yorkshire for generations.

The route wound through trees alongside the old canal corridor. The first signs of autumn were beginning to appear, with dappled sunlight filtering through the woodland canopy. A heron stood motionless beside the water, patiently watching for its next meal, while fungi decorated interestingly shaped trees.

This ability of the landscape to reinvent itself demonstrates how former industrial land can become a place for recreation, biodiversity and community wellbeing while still retaining links to its past.

Following the Barnsley Canal

The Trail weaves alongside surviving sections of the canal corridor, sharing part of its route with the Wonders of Wakefield cycling trail. It is a peaceful place today, frequented by walkers, cyclists and families, yet it was once one of the region’s most important transport arteries.

Built around the turn of the nineteenth century, the Barnsley Canal enabled coal from the Yorkshire coalfield to reach wider markets. Although no longer navigable, many of its features remain visible in the landscape. Towpaths, bridges, embankments and watered sections provide clues to its former importance.

As I rode through the wooded corridor, it was easy to imagine horse-drawn boats travelling the same route over 200 years ago. The tranquillity of the modern Trail contrasts sharply with the industrial activity that once filled this landscape, making it one of the most compelling sections of the route from a heritage perspective.

Notton Bridge and the Railway Age

Approaching Notton Lane, I crossed from South Yorkshire into West Yorkshire and left the canal briefly to cross the railway.

This bridge offers a wonderful snapshot of Britain’s transport history. Beneath it runs the busy Midland Main Line, part of the route originally developed by George Stephenson’s North Midland Railway between Derby, Rotherham and Leeds. Alongside it lies the route of the former Chevet Branch Railway, now transformed into the Chevet Branch Greenway.

Nearby stand the Midland Cottages, built by the Midland Railway between 1871 and 1881 to house railway workers. These surviving buildings are a reminder that railways not only changed how people travelled but also shaped entire communities and settlements.

Cold Hiendley Reservoir: A Reservoir Built for Boats

Beyond Notton Bridge, I continued through woodland along the former canal before emerging near Cold Hiendley Reservoir.

Standing beside the water, with Wintersett Reservoir and Anglers Country Parkbehind it in the distance, it’s easy to assume the reservoir was built for drinking water. In fact, its original purpose was very different.

Cold Hiendley Reservoir was constructed in the 1790s specifically to supply water to the Barnsley Canal. Without a reliable water source, canal locks simply could not operate.

Even more fascinating is the engineering that once existed here. A steam-powered pumping station recycled water between the canal and reservoir, while feeder channels, sluices and pumping systems managed water levels. Canal boats even delivered coal to fuel the engines. What appears today as a peaceful beauty spot was once a vital part of an industrial transport network.

Now the reservoir has been reclaimed by nature. Anglers cast lines into the water, birds patrol the shoreline and walkers enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Like Rabbit Ings, it tells a story of transformation while retaining visible links to its industrial past.

Looking Beyond the Surface

After reaching Haw Park Wood, I turned around and retraced my route back to Rabbit Ings. The return ride gave me another chance to appreciate both the scenery and the history hidden within it.

In total, the ride covered just over eight kilometres, but it offered a remarkable journey through more than two centuries of Yorkshire heritage. From former collieries and coke works to canals, railways, reservoirs and modern nature reserves, this section of the Trans Pennine Trail reveals how landscapes continually adapt and evolve.

The ride itself was very enjoyable in the autumn sun, but knowing the stories behind the places made it even more rewarding. That is exactly why the Trans Pennine Trail Heritage Fund project is so important. By uncovering and sharing these hidden stories, it helps us see that every mile of Trail has a history waiting to be discovered.

Have You Explored This Section of the Trail?

This ‘out and back’ ride may only have been just over 8km, but it offered a remarkable journey through more than two centuries of Yorkshire heritage.  From former collieries and coke works to canals, railways, reservoirs and modern nature reserves, this section of the Trans Pennine Trail reveals how landscapes continually adapt and evolve and demonstrates how the Trans Pennine Trail connects people not just with nature, but with the rich industrial heritage of the North.

As the Trans Pennine Trail develops its Heritage Fund project, we’d love to hear about the places that capture your imagination. Have you cycled, walked or ridden this section of the Trail? Do you have memories of the Barnsley Canal, the railways, the collieries, or the industries that once shaped this landscape?

Share your stories, photographs and local knowledge with us. Together, we can help uncover, preserve and celebrate the hidden heritage that makes the Trans Pennine Trail such a special place. 🚶‍♂️🚴‍♀️📸

Have a favourite heritage feature along the Trail? Let us know in the comments or share your photos on social media using #TransPennineTrail and tag us in your adventures.

Robert
Date: 25th September, 2026